Auburn’s School Department should be commended for taking a stance for allowing students a chance to receive an associate degree after six years in high school. Such a plan was Gov. Paul LePage’s campaign promise of 2010.

Maine’s voters passed a referendum to have the state fund education at 55 percent. The Legislature has never funded the full amount, ignoring the law on the state books for years.

If there is to be a statewide program the same as proposed for Auburn, the state would have to belly up to the bar to help pay for it. Towns and cities do not have the means available to fund such a program.

The Legislature has many ways to do it. The only losers here are the children and Maine’s future.

All students should have vocational schools or other options available. And no child should ever be looked down on just because they are good with their hands.

Not everyone can do college work. There should be other choices, other than college, from which to choose. And college courses should also be available for students while they are in high school.

Money should never be a problem. Programs should be available to help every student here in Maine.

Maine needs a ready workforce for all the different jobs, now and in the future, and everyone who wants to work should be able to have a good paying job.

If not, we will surely pay for it.

Richard Nadeau, Lisbon Falls